PEABODY — Brodie’s Pub will stand a story taller once it reopens in Peabody Square, according to the latest plans.
The project was before the City Council for an entertainment license Thursday night. But councilors deferred that vote after learning the project was significantly larger than what was presented when owner Michael Votto pulled a demolition and structural permit last year, they said.
Instead of keeping the building’s current three-story height, Votto plans to add a fourth floor and have pub space on both the first and second floors, not just the first floor as originally planned.
Votto is allowed to do this by-right, attorney John Keilty told councilors Thursday, because the four stories will stand at 49 feet, 6 inches high, below what the area’s zoning rules would require for a variance.
“Given the astronomical costs in building the structure, we elected to add additional floors in compliance with zoning,” Keilty said.
The building “presented some significant challenges” while crews worked to shore up the structure and make it safe, work that’s been ongoing for months, he said.
Votto still plans to use the top two floors for a salon and day spa, and commercial space, Keilty said.
The pub’s projected opening date is November, he said.
The entertainment license would allow Brodie’s to host acoustic live music, karaoke, comedy shows and trivia nights, according to the application. Live entertainment will be restricted to the second floor of the pub, Keilty said.
Most councilors said they were uncomfortable considering the entertainment license Thursday night, however, as they only learned of the change to the project through a late communication.
“The public hasn’t even seen this yet. I have a major problem with this…” Councilor at-Large Anne Manning-Martin said. “This is the first that we have seen of it and as representatives of the community, the public, they should have a right to be aware of this, to be able to come speak on it.”
Votto bought 10 Lowell St. site from the city for $450,000 in early 2023. Councilor at-Large Tom Rossignoll said Thursday that if he knew a fourth floor could be added to the building, he would have requested the city ask for more money in the sale.
“You can get more out of potential bidders if you could raise the floor and the fact that this was just kind of automatically done,” he said, “I just don’t see how we weren’t included in at least us understanding that this was going to be occurring.”
Having entertainment on the second floor was never part of the original agreement with the city, either, Rossignoll said.
Keilty agreed, as the plans changed later on after the initial permit was pulled, he said.
Councilors shared concerns of music from the second floor affecting funeral services at the Ruggerio Family Memorial Home next door.
The second floor would have mostly non-operable windows and those that can be opened will remain closed during live entertainment, Keilty said.
Crews will install foam insulation in the building’s walls that dampen sound, Ward 2 Councilor Pete McGinn said. Having Brodie’s kitchen and offices at the back of the building should help keep sound from traveling toward the funeral home and Chestnut Street, he added.
Councilor at-Large Jon Turco requested the city solicitor look into whether new plans for a fourth floor violates the initial Request for Proposals that the city issued for the sale of the site. He asked if the updated plans for a four-story building have been discussed with Mayor Ted Bettencourt, to which Keilty answered no.
“We have a good shot with Peabody Square again and I’m still excited about it,” Turco said. “Nobody’s looking to hold up the new Brodie’s. I think that this kind of caught us off guard and wasn’t at all what was presented to us (originally).”
The council voted unanimously to continue the entertainment license hearing to an undetermined date after the project goes before the Licensing Board.
Caroline Enos at CEnos@northofboston.com